Traffic mirror

Abstract

A traffic mirror comprises a spherically curved glass pane having a front surface, a rear surface, and an outer periphery, a metal reflective layer located on the inner surface of the glass pane, and a decorative frame located directly on the glass pane. The decorative frame is an enamel-like colored material which is baked onto the outer periphery of the glass pane. The traffic mirror further comprises a supporting structure for mounting the traffic mirror onto a vertical post. The supporting structure comprises at least two supporting struts which, are attached directly to the glass pane, for example, by bolts passing through bores in the glass pane itself. The glass pane is made from thermally prestressed single pane safety glass. The traffic mirror does away with the bulky frames used in prior art mirrors of this kind.

We claim: 
     
       1. A traffic mirror, comprising a spherically curved glass pane having a front surface a rear surface, and an outer periphery,   a metal reflective layer located on the rear surface of said glass plane,   said glass pane including a decorative border comprising a layer of an enamel-like material located directly on said front surface of said glass pane and along said outer periphery, and   a supporting structure for mounting said traffic mirror on a mounting structure, said supporting structure comprising at least two supporting struts each having first and second ends, said supporting struts being attached at their first ends directly to said outer periphery of said glass pane and at their second ends to said mounting structure.   
     
     
       2. The traffic mirror of claim 1 wherein said glass pane is made from thermally prestressed single-pane safety glass. 
     
     
       3. The traffic mirror of claim 1 further comprising at least one protective layer adjacent to said metal reflective layer. 
     
     
       4. The traffic mirror of claim 3 wherein said protective layer is made from a synthetic material. 
     
     
       5. The traffic mirror of claim 1 wherein said enamel-like material is colored. 
     
     
       6. The traffic mirror of claim 1 wherein said enamel-like material is multi-colored. 
     
     
       7. The traffic mirror of claim 1 wherein said enamel-like material contains glass microspheres. 
     
     
       8. The traffic mirror of claim 1 further comprising a protective profile disposed along said outer periphery. 
     
     
       9. The traffic mirror of claim 8 wherein said protective profile is of U-shaped cross-section and receives therein said glass pane. 
     
     
       10. The traffic mirror of claim 1 wherein said glass pane includes at least two bores whereby said supporting struts are attached directly to said glass pane. 
     
     
       11. The traffic mirror of claim 1 wherein said glass pane is substantially of rectangular configuration and includes a bore at each corner, and wherein said supporting structure comprises four supporting struts each of which is attached directly to said glass pane at one of said bores. 
     
     
       12. The traffic mirror of claim 11 further comprising threading means for attaching said four supporting struts to said glass pane at said bores. 
     
     
       13. The traffic mirror of claim 12 further comprising elastic intermediary elements disposed between said threading means and said bores. 
     
     
       14. A traffic mirror, comprising a spherically curved glass pane having a front surface, a rear surface, and an outer periphery,   a metal reflective layer located on the rear surface of said glass pane,   a decorative frame located directly on said glass pane, said decorative frame contiguously adhering to said glass pane along said outer periphery, and   a supporting structure for mounting said traffic mirror on a mounting structure, said supporting structure comprising two supporting struts each having first and second ends, said two supporting struts having recesses at each of their ends, said two supporting struts being joined at their second ends and being disposed at an angle to each other to define a supporting plate.   said supporting structure further including two rods passing through said recesses at said first ends of said two supporting struts, and extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said supporting plate, said supporting structure further including clamping means located at the ends of each of said rods for connecting said rods to said outer periphery of said glass pane.   
     
     
       15. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said rods are made of metal and are capable of being elastically deformed. 
     
     
       16. The traffic mirror of claim 16 wherein said rods are welded to said supporting struts. 
     
     
       17. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said rods include threads and said rods are threadingly attached to said supporting struts. 
     
     
       18. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said recesses in said supporting struts are bores which receive said rods. 
     
     
       19. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said recesses are slit-shaped openings into which said rods are hooked. 
     
     
       20. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said clamping means are made from an elastic synthetic material. 
     
     
       21. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said clamping means are of U-shaped cross-section and include a front leg and a rear leg, said rods passing through a bore in said rear leg of said clamping means. 
     
     
       22. The traffic mirror of claim 14 wherein said clamping means have a width of about 2 to 4 cm. 
     
     
       23. A traffic mirror comprising a spherically curved mirror having an outwardly facing surface and an outer periphery,   said mirror including a decorative border comprising a layer of an enamel-like material located directly on said facing surface of said mirror, and   a supporting structure for mounting said mirror on a mounting structure, said supporting structure being attached directly to said outer periphery of said mirror.   
     
     
       24. The traffic mirror of claim 23 wherein said glass pane is made from thermally prestressed single-pane safety glass. 
     
     
       25. The traffic mirror of claim 24 wherein said enamel-like material is a baked on enamel-like material. 
     
     
       26. The traffic mirror of claim 25 wherein said facing surface is a front surface of said mirror. 
     
     
       27. The traffic mirror of claim 25 wherein said facing surface is rear surface of said mirror.